The role of Village Health Volunteers in Home Visiting with Hypertensive patients in the community
Keywords:
Village Health Volunteers, Home Visiting, Hypertensive patientsAbstract
Hypertension is a chronic non-communicable disease that has a widespread impact on public health. It is a leading cause of premature death. Community-level disease management therefore requires a combination of medical treatment, health behavior modification, and community support mechanisms. Village Health Volunteers (VHVs) play a key role in patient care, working alongside the health team through continuous home visits. Their roles include 1) screening and identifying new patients for referral into the health system 2) monitoring and assessing health status with nurses to ensure continuity of care 3) promoting health knowledge and behaviors, such as medication adherence, dietary adjustments, and exercise 4) holistic care, encompassing physical, mental, and social aspects, through encouragement and the creation of support networks in the community. VHVs play a crucial role in enhancing disease control, reducing complications, alleviating the burden on health personnel, and sustainably improving the quality of life for patients and community members.
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